The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-09-29

Z gates in the track Of their earlier COM
rades; and hanging upon his arm is q
woman in black, thickly yeiled.
Perhaps it was-a mistake, and it was
some one like John at little distance,
but not John himself, y says the father, as
Instantly elect to believe him. The tones
have in them such a depth of sadness and
vain regret that I unconsciously fall to
studying the speakers face. 1t is a
striking and noble one, though there are
signs that both pride and passion have
done work thereupon with their ruthless
craving tools AS I watch there comes
to me- the conviction that these Inca
aments ara not wholly strange; yet / am
bafled to discover any basis for the Curl
gous fancy of familiarity.
His companionF nrurmurs something
which fhesshriek of q whistle causes me
to lose (as II T had the remotest right to
play the, ,eayesdropper).
ssAh, Johnls Can he not trust me to
forgive him everythipg?" the old man an
swers. 81 r
.sThis is your train, sir Any luggagefn
s I saunter leisurely off In the rear of the
porter 1 have tipped, and the episode
scarce worthy of such Designations
at an end. But that fragment Of conver-
sation comes back at this hour as if it
were even now ringing in my ears, and ]
am trying to account for the enduring ma
ture OF. these recolle ections as I weave
them together.
paused at the preceding paragraph
three hours ago, and took my hat and
oyercoat- it Is q stormy October night
and went TO Mostyn, as the Hildreth's
home Is called. Mrs. Bristowe's visit
draws to close. She has o fathar stay
tng with friends In southern cathedral
city, and she has but fulfilled an old pro-
mise by thus invading the Fen country.
Parent and daughter return simultaneous
5ly, or as nearly as they can contrive it, to
their London residence. Further delay on
my part might have been. disastrous. BY
which hint !. have perhaps revealed that
do not now write MS q disappointed man.
Yet there was hazard and uncertainty.
Mrs. Hildreth had more than suspicion
of my errand, and contrived, with woman
" dexterity, to leave: Margaret and me to
a tete-a-tete, o service for which I shall
ever owe my partners wife debt of graft
tude Hildreth was attending old Sir
Lucas Gannithorne at Gamble Manor for
gout.. i had counted upon this; though,
had he been at home, my friend and col
league, I make no doubt, would have
caught a peculiar twinkle in his wife's'
eyes-or have practiced the art of divina-
ton for 1limself-and have remembered
neglected call
am not going to enter into details. Let
it suffice that offered my hand to Mrs.
Bristowe-my heart was hers already
and was refused. But she admitted that
to some extent she reciprocated my feet
ings Of regard and affection; whereupon /
plucked up courage to inquire into the
reasons of her decision.
During the course of the conversation
that ensued between us, it was borne in
upon me moro and more that Margaret
was the girl who had suffered 80 crushing
a. discontinue in the jewelers. shop at
Renford. Twas determined in some way
to have this question resolved before wish
ing her farewell. But she forestalled my
purpose.
.Our acquaintance has been agreeable
tome also, confess, (" she said. "Have
you any idea, Mr.. Bruton, that it was not
in this room that we met-or rather were
lutO -ttCClOCuE1 4Ol tilC
first or the second time?''
I started at these last words. Was
Margaret the yelled lady of the railway
platform? II must acknowledge that I
am prepared to hear it," answered.
Our eyes met, and there was the bond
henceforth of a mutual understanding be-
tween US. But how full of hopeless pain
was Margaret's glance! And then, bit by
bit, she confided to me the story, which,
in her view, constituted an insurmount-
able obstacle in the path OF my happiness.
She had prodigal brother, who had only
escaped condign punishment for his mis-
demcanors by opportlne disappearance.
The burden of vicarious slime lay heavy
on her soul, and she most resolutely pur-
posed to bear the load alone.
ssWe know nothing of Jacks where
abouts or mode of life now," she said;
ssand it Is my daily dread that some new
disgrace may yet come upon us. will
not expose another to this irksome risk"
My temerity surely transgressed the
bounds Of courtesy. aBut you married
Mr.. Bristowe?" I said.
The delicate oval features were mantled
with q vivid blush, and I construed the
sign as chiefly one Of anger. 1t had q
very different and, for me, a less awkward
explanation.
'sPoor Dickl Twill not say one harsh
word Of him. she murmured. "But 1
did not-girl as was-care for Dick Us o
woman ought to care for the man she
lpnarries. He was my fathers choice for
NE, and he had knowledge of my
brother's escapades, which VIC wished
buried in silence. 2
.And you were the sacrifice
& There YVES no denial If Jack would
hnyoos n-,d rofor,n father yyny,1d for